Variags: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:John Howe - Variag.jpg|thumb|''Variag'' by [[John Howe]].]]
{{people
The '''Variags''' were a little-known people who dwelt in the land of [[Khand]]
| image=[[File:John Howe - Variag.jpg|250px]]
| name=Variags
| dominions=[[Khand]]
| languages=presumably numerous; different from [[Common Speech]]
| height=shorter than [[Númenóreans]]
| length=
| skincolor=
| haircolor=
| feathers=
| distinctions=Alliance with [[Sauron]]
| lifespan=shorter than Númenórean
| members=
|}}
The '''Variags''' were a little-known people who dwelt in the land of [[Khand]].
 
==History==
==History==
They were allies of both [[Rhûn]] or [[Harad]], to neither of which they belonged.
The Variags came from Khand, a little-known land southeast of [[Mordor]].<ref>{{UT|Map}}</ref> In the [[Third Age]] Khand was under the influence of [[Mordor]]; in {{TA|1944}} the Men of Khand together with the [[Haradrim|Southrons]] of [[Near Harad]] joined the [[Wainriders]] to attack Gondor.<ref>{{App|Gondor}}</ref>


Khand was east of [[Mordor]], at the time of the [[War of the Ring]]. They were allied to [[Sauron]], and their warriors were seen at the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]].
During the [[War of the Ring]] the Variags fought at the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]]. They were held in reserve in [[Osgiliath]] along with armies of [[Easterlings]] and [[Southrons]]. After the death of the [[Witch-king]] they were sent onto the battlefield by [[Gothmog (Lieutenant of Morgul)|Gothmog]]. Their ranks were among [[troll-men]] and [[Orcs]] when the knights of [[Dol Amroth]] ran and drove them back.<ref>{{RK|V6}}</ref>


==Etymology==
==Etymology==
''Variag'' is a word of a [[Harad]] language<ref>{{HM|PM}}, [[The Appendix on Languages]]</ref>, but its meaning is unknown.
The meaning of ''Variag'' is unknown; it is, along with ''[[mûmak]]'' and ''[[Khand]]'', one of the few known words from the languages of the Men of the East and allies of Sauron.<ref>{{PM|II}}, p. 79.</ref>
 
It is not clear if the word "Variag" is synonymous with the Men of Khand in general, or is a specific group or tribe of those men. The name appears only in context of the Battle of the Pelennor; the [[Appendix A|Annals of Kings and Rulers]] mention the Men of Khand who moved against Gondor in the 20th century, but the name Variags is not used.
 
==Inspiration==
==Inspiration==
[[Wikipedia:Variag|Variag]] is a Slavic word derived from [[Norse]] ''Varingar'' "mercenary people" (''vár'' "contract"). The Norse root indicates that perhaps Tolkien intended ''Variag'' to be a "translated" [[Northern Mannish]] word.
[[Wikipedia:Variag|Variag]] is a Slavic word derived from [[Norse]] ''Varingar'' "mercenary people" (''vár'' "contract"). The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varangian_Guard Varangian Guard] were Norse body-guards of the Byzantine Emperor.
 
It has been suggested that Tolkien adopted the Slavic term to indicate that the Variags were possibly mercenaries serving a possible Lord of Khand.<ref>{{HM|IE}}, Obscure Languages</ref>
 
==Portrayal in adaptations==
[[File:Angus McBride - Variags.jpg|thumb|''Variags of Khand'' in [[Middle-earth Collectible Card Game|MECCG]]]]
'''1982-97: ''[[Middle-earth Role Playing]]'':'''
:Variags, who speak the tongue Varadja, share ties with both Easterlings and Haradrim.<ref>{{ICE|2000}}</ref><ref>{{ICE|8003}}</ref>
 
'''1995-8: ''[[Middle-earth Collectible Card Game]]'':'''
:Variags of Khand is a Man Faction.


Also, the meaning suggests that the Variags of Khand were not an ethnic group but a kind of elite mercenaries or corps in service of Mordor.
'''2016: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:Variags appear as enemy NPCs encountered in [[Anórien|Far Anórien]].


==See also==
*[[:Category:Images of Variags|Images of Variags]]
{{references}}
{{references}}
[[Category:Easterlings]]
[[Category:Men]]
[[category:Mannish words]]
[[Category:Mannish words]]
[[de:Variags]]
[[fr:encyclo/peuples/hommes/variags]]
[[fi:Varjaagit]]

Revision as of 19:42, 2 August 2017

Variags
People
John Howe - Variag.jpg
Physical Description
Lifespanshorter than Númenórean
DistinctionsAlliance with Sauron
Average heightshorter than Númenóreans
GalleryImages of Variags

The Variags were a little-known people who dwelt in the land of Khand.

History

The Variags came from Khand, a little-known land southeast of Mordor.[1] In the Third Age Khand was under the influence of Mordor; in T.A. 1944 the Men of Khand together with the Southrons of Near Harad joined the Wainriders to attack Gondor.[2]

During the War of the Ring the Variags fought at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. They were held in reserve in Osgiliath along with armies of Easterlings and Southrons. After the death of the Witch-king they were sent onto the battlefield by Gothmog. Their ranks were among troll-men and Orcs when the knights of Dol Amroth ran and drove them back.[3]

Etymology

The meaning of Variag is unknown; it is, along with mûmak and Khand, one of the few known words from the languages of the Men of the East and allies of Sauron.[4]

It is not clear if the word "Variag" is synonymous with the Men of Khand in general, or is a specific group or tribe of those men. The name appears only in context of the Battle of the Pelennor; the Annals of Kings and Rulers mention the Men of Khand who moved against Gondor in the 20th century, but the name Variags is not used.

Inspiration

Variag is a Slavic word derived from Norse Varingar "mercenary people" (vár "contract"). The Varangian Guard were Norse body-guards of the Byzantine Emperor.

It has been suggested that Tolkien adopted the Slavic term to indicate that the Variags were possibly mercenaries serving a possible Lord of Khand.[5]

Portrayal in adaptations

Variags of Khand in MECCG

1982-97: Middle-earth Role Playing:

Variags, who speak the tongue Varadja, share ties with both Easterlings and Haradrim.[6][7]

1995-8: Middle-earth Collectible Card Game:

Variags of Khand is a Man Faction.

2016: The Lord of the Rings Online:

Variags appear as enemy NPCs encountered in Far Anórien.

See also

References